Trucker News

Your CA or CHP regulation number needs to be a minimum of at least 2 inches and must be visible from at least 50 feet away. It is very important for your CA number to be displayed on both sides of your power unit (commercial vehicle).

It is also required to display any other regulation numbers that are applicable to your business such as a USDOT, MC or GVW number.

In the State of California, mandated by the California Highway Patrol you are required to display your business name, the city where your business is registered and your CA number (also any other regulation numbers you need). Displaying all of your information properly on both sides of your commercial vehicle shows that you are abiding CHP laws.

This also makes it easier for CHP officers, CHP Weight Station Workers and if you are in an accidently to properly locate the Motor Carrier. Meaning, it makes you and the authority’s life a lot easier.

If you have any question regarding CHP laws and regulations, we would be happy to assist you!

USDOT number lettering needs to be at least 2 inches in height and must be visible from a distance of 50 feet during the day. USDOT and other regulation numbers can be larger. It is recommended to display all of your important lettering at a height of 3” inches just to be safe, especially if you plan to cross state lines. The term “big is better” is applicable in this instance.

Example: You are a trucker from Kansas and you are delivering a load to New York City. In the state of Kansas the minimum size requirement for lettering is 2 inches but in New York City, the minimum is 3 inch lettering. If you are stopped in New York City for having lettering under 3 inches you will get a fine. So, this is why we recommend a lettering size of 3 inches to cover all grounds. Some counties or cities have different rules and regulations that the FMCSA.

In both examples below, you can see the size difference between 2 inch, 2.5 inch, 3 inch and 3.5 USDOT number lettering.

If you have any questions, one of our customer service representatives would be happy to help you.

Do you want to use one of our custom graphic designs to display your company name, USDOT, MC, GVW, KYU, GVW or any regulation number you might need? Simply add all of your information in the text boxes, check out, and one of our certified graphic designers will contact you to review your custom design USDOT template.

At this point, you will be able to adjust anything from your custom design, from the size, color, font, or if you need to add an additional line to be up to code. Every order is reviewed by our team of graphic designers for optimal aesthetics. We are the best in USDOT Lettering Truck Templates. If you have any questions, we would be more than happy to help!

We hear it all of the time, “The POPO ain’t gonna mess with my DOT numbers if I display them on cardboard” which translates to “The Police (DOT) is not going to tell me anything if my regulation numbers (USDOT) are not displayed correctly”.

One of the first things a commercial vehicle inspector looks at is your regulation numbers such as your USDOT, MC, GVW, KYU, CA, VIN or whatever number is applicable to your type of business and/or state. Truck scales or weight stations now have the ability to read all of the numbers you choose to display outside of your commercial vehicle. These advanced cameras and sensors will pick up the lettering and transmit it to the scale house authority. If your lettering is difficult to read, the chances of you getting audited or pulled over increase substantially.

Not only does professional lettering look good, but it leaves a good impression on business partners and the public. Spend the few extra bucks and get it done right the first time.

If you have any questions, our dedicated staff would be more than happy to assist.